Middle English word hewe comes from Proto-Indo-European *kow-, Proto-Indo-European *ḱoy-, and later Proto-Germanic *hiwją (Appearance, blee. Form, shape. Mold, mildew.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *kow- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *ḱoy- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *hiwją | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Appearance, blee. Form, shape. Mold, mildew. |
| *hīwô | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| hīw | Old English (ang) | |
| hīwa | Old English (ang) | |
| hewe | Middle English (enm) | Hue (tone; color). |